With Means For Varying Timing Patents (Class 123/90.15)
  • Patent number: 11352919
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for actuating a camshaft adjuster of an internal combustion engine, in which a current is generated in an electric motor of the camshaft adjuster comprising: measuring an instantaneous strength of the current; calculating a mean value of the measured strength of the current over a predefined elapsed time; measuring a temperature of the camshaft adjuster; comparing the mean value of the measured strength of the current to a threshold value obtained from a characteristic diagram stored in a memory based on the measured temperature and the predefined elapsed time; and reducing the current if the calculated mean value of the strength of the current is higher than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Stowasser, Suk-Ju Kim, Thomas Burkhardt
  • Patent number: 11339689
    Abstract: A bearing portion of a planetary rotatable body for providing bearing support in a thrust direction is defined as a planetary thrust bearing portion. A driving-side rotatable body or a driven-side rotatable body, which is configured to contact the planetary thrust bearing portion in the thrust direction, is defined as a specific rotatable body. A bearing portion of the specific rotatable body for providing bearing support in the thrust direction is defined as a specific thrust bearing portion. In a parallel state where the specific thrust bearing portion and the planetary thrust bearing portion are parallel to each other, the specific thrust bearing portion and the planetary thrust bearing portion contact with each other only on one of an eccentric side and a counter-eccentric side of the planetary rotatable body while the counter-eccentric side is opposite to the eccentric side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Otsubo, Hiroki Takahashi, Kenichi Tomomatsu, Shuhei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11306626
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser, including: a stator arranged to receive rotational torque, including a plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions, and supported for rotation around an axis of rotation; a rotor including a plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions circumferentially interleaved with the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions, and arranged to non-rotatably connect to a camshaft; a plurality of phaser chambers, each phaser chamber circumferentially bounded by a radially inwardly extending protrusion included in the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions and a radially outwardly extending protrusion included in the plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions; an annular washer; and a target wheel including a first portion axially located between the annular washer and the rotor and in contact with the annular washer, arranged to detect a rotational position of the rotor for use in rotating the rotor with respect to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Alexandre Camilo
  • Patent number: 11300060
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for engine braking in a vehicle. In one example, a method may include deactivating fueling to at least one cylinder of an engine, increasing an air mass provided to the engine via an electric boosting device, and adjusting an exhaust valve opening timing of the at least one cylinder in response to a request for engine braking. In this way, an amount of engine braking torque may be increased with reduced wear to engine system components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11287354
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnostics of a cylinder valve actuation mechanism in a variable displacement engine (VDE). In one example, during an engine-off condition, the engine may be rotated unfueled, via a starter motor, and a reference exhaust air flow may be estimated. One or more deactivatable engine cylinders may then be deactivated and degradation of the cylinder valve actuation mechanism may be indicated based on a difference between the exhaust air flow following the cylinder deactivation and the reference exhaust air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 11286995
    Abstract: A hydraulic clutch assembly includes a housing defining an internal cavity, a shaft, a clutch pack, a piston and a cylinder. The shaft extends within the internal cavity along a rotation axis for a rotatable member. The clutch pack includes interleaved plates and discs which are configured to rotationally couple the rotatable member to the shaft. The piston may be disposed within the internal cavity of the housing. The piston includes a first piston region and a second piston region. The first piston region is configured to engage the clutch pack while the second piston region is spaced radially from the first piston region. The piston may be arranged within the housing to define a first pressure chamber between the piston and the housing. The cylinder may be disposed within the internal cavity of the housing and may include a hollow interior for receiving the second piston region. The second piston region and the cylinder may define a second pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Satheesh Ganesan, Kevin M. Allen
  • Patent number: 11261806
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing air flow to an emission control device during a fuel shut-off event. In one example, a method may include adjusting a timing of an exhaust valve and a timing of an intake valve of a cylinder during the fuel shut-off event using a common actuator. The actuator may include a planetary gear system configured to rotate a first portion of a camshaft in a first direction and a second portion of the camshaft in a second, opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory McConville
  • Patent number: 11255227
    Abstract: A valve opening and closing timing control device includes: a drive-side rotary body rotating synchronously with a crankshaft; a driven-side rotary body provided inside the drive-side rotary body coaxially and rotating integrally with a camshaft; advance and retard chambers formed between the drive-side and driven-side rotary bodies; a lock mechanism switchable between a lock state and a lock release state; a valve unit including a fluid supply pipe into which fluid is supplied and a spool movable along a direction of the rotation axis, and controlling supply of the fluid to and from the lock mechanism, and the advance and retard chambers; and a tubular valve case having an internal space inside the driven-side rotary body and housing the valve unit in the internal space. A first opening portion is formed in the fluid supply pipe. A second opening portion is formed in the valve case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Ueda, Yuji Noguchi, Hirokazu Nonogaki
  • Patent number: 11255229
    Abstract: An exhaust valve rocker arm for an exhaust valve rocker arm assembly operable in a combustion engine drive mode and an engine braking mode, and configured to selectively open first and second exhaust valves, includes a body defining an aperture to receive a rocker shaft such that the body is rotatable about the rocker shaft, a bore defined in the body, and a rotating stepped engine brake capsule disposed in the bore and having a castellation mechanism. The rotating stepped engine brake capsule is movable between a locked, engine brake active position and an unlocked, engine brake inactive position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Mark VanWingerden
  • Patent number: 11242776
    Abstract: A valve open-close timing control device includes a driving rotator, a driven rotator, a phase adjusting mechanism, a sensor unit, a storage configured to store the plurality of divided regions consecutively provided, as a plurality of divided length information pieces corresponding to divided lengths of the divided regions, and an actual phase acquisition unit configured to start acquisition of the crank angle signal and the cam angle signal along with start of actuation control of actuating the internal combustion engine, specify one of the divided regions by referring to the divided length information pieces stored in the storage in accordance with the crank angle signal at timing set in accordance with the cam angle signal, and acquire the relative rotation phase as an actual phase in accordance with the crank angle signal corresponding to the boundary of the divided region thus specified and the reference crank angle signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Iwaya, Masahiro Okado, Toi Suzuki, Toshiki Miyake, Takano Nakai, Kenichiro Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Kamoyama, Toru Hirota
  • Patent number: 11236646
    Abstract: A valve drive device for actuating valves of an internal combustion engine a rocker arm device and a switchover device that includes at least two actuators for the at least one rocker arm device. The two actuators respectively include a switching element adjustable between a first position and a second position; a resetting device for resetting the switching element with a resetting force into the second position; a holding coil for offsetting the resetting force of the resetting device; a switching coil that counteracts the resetting force during operation. The switching coil and the holding coil adjust the switching element into the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Markus Lindgren
  • Patent number: 11210874
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and apparatus for determining, and reporting vehicle carbon emissions using a local device, a client device, and a system server. The local device is connected to the automotive controller and is wirelessly connected to the client device. The client device is connected to the system server. The local device receives engine data from the automotive controller and determines and stores fuel consumption over a period of time. The client device receives the fuel consumption data from the local device and sends the data to the system server. The system server determines the carbon emissions based on the fuel consumption and reports the emissions data to a third-party to certify carbon offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: EZ Lynk SEZC
    Inventors: Brad Gintz, Thomas Wood, Frederick Hershel Savage
  • Patent number: 11193400
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser routes pressurized fluid from a set of chambers that are decreasing in volume to a reservoir. Oscillations of the rotor with respect to the stator create intervals in which the pressure in the reservoir exceeds the pressure in the set of chambers which are increasing in volume. During these intervals, fluid flows from the reservoir, through one-way valves, into the chambers which are increasing in volume. Pressurization of the reservoir increases the volume of flow through the one-way valves, decreasing the pump flow requirement for the camshaft phaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andrew Mlinaric
  • Patent number: 11181015
    Abstract: An oil control valve for controlling a cam phaser includes a valve housing, a recirculation housing, a spool guide, a spool, a first and second recirculation valve, and a one-way inlet valve. The valve housing has a pressure inlet port, a first bore having a first inner surface, a first port, and a second port. The recirculation housing has a first slot, a second slot, a second bore having a second inner surface, and a first outer surface. A first recirculation valve is disposed in the first slot of the recirculation housing. A second recirculation valve is disposed in the second slot of the recirculation housing. The one-way inlet valve disposed in the pressure inlet port. The recirculation housing and spool are each slidingly disposed to have a first, second, and third modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Rolando Huerta Ortiz, Michael E. McCarroll
  • Patent number: 11174760
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes an input member and an output member. A valve spool is moveable along an axis between an advance position and a retard position and includes a valve spool bore. A check valve within the valve spool bore includes a check valve member which moves between a seated position and an unseated position such that the check valve member prevents fluid flow out of the valve spool bore through a passage and such that the check valve member permits flow into the valve spool bore through the passage. An insert within the valve spool bore supports the check valve closes one end of the valve spool bore and abuts an insert retainer to retain the insert within the valve spool bore. A spring urges the insert toward the insert retainer and holds the insert retainer in compression against the insert retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas H. Fischer, Prashant Bhokardole
  • Patent number: 11168590
    Abstract: A sleeve for a cam phaser, wherein the sleeve is arranged between a central valve and a rotor of the cam phaser, wherein the rotor is rotatable relative to a stator of the cam phaser about a rotation axis of the rotor, wherein a vane of the rotor is arranged positionable between two bars of the stator, wherein the vane divides an intermediary space that is formed between the two bars into a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber, wherein the rotor is movable by pressures that are provided in the first pressure chamber and in the second pressure chamber, wherein the central valve is configured to provide pressure loading and pressure relief of the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: ECO Holding 1 GmbH
    Inventors: Rene Heym, Norbert Loesch, Daniel Viertler
  • Patent number: 11168591
    Abstract: A hydraulically-actuated variable camshaft timing (VCT) phaser assembly is employed for use in an automotive internal combustion engine. The VCT phaser assembly has a housing, a rotor, a first plate, a second plate, and a control valve. The rotor is situated within the housing, and a plurality of chambers are established between the rotor and housing. The first plate is situated on one side of the housing and rotor, and the second plate is situated on an opposite side of the housing and rotor. One or more air vents reside in one or more of the housing, rotor, first plate, second plate, or control valve. Air separated from hydraulic fluid in the VCT phaser assembly amid use and that makes its way to the air vent(s) can escape the VCT phaser assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: BORGWARNER, INC.
    Inventors: John C. Bulzacchelli, Michael L. Smart
  • Patent number: 11162414
    Abstract: An idler shaft (100) used in an engine (10) having a gear cover (16) and a cylinder block (18). The idler shaft (100) includes an integral body (114) having a cylindrical shape. The idler shaft (100) is compressed between the gear cover (16) and the cylinder block (18) when assembled together such that the integral body (114) of the idler shaft (100) provides a clamp load and axial sealing between the gear cover (16) and the cylinder block (18). The idler shaft (100) further includes a passage way (116) fluidly connected to at least one of: the cylinder block (18) and the gear cover (16) for accommodating transmission of a fluid for the engine (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Barnes, Kevin C. Augustin, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11156179
    Abstract: A system includes a fuel control module and a valve control module. The fuel control module controls a fuel injector to stop fuel delivery to each cylinder of an engine in a vehicle when the vehicle is decelerating. The valve control module controls a valve actuator to actuate intake and exhaust valves of each cylinder of the engine between open and closed positions when fuel delivery to each cylinder of the engine is stopped. The valve control module controls the valve actuator to adjust an amount of airflow through each cylinder of the engine to a minimum amount when fuel delivery to each cylinder of the engine is initially stopped. The valve control module controls the valve actuator to adjust the amount of airflow through each cylinder of the engine to an amount greater than the minimum amount before fuel delivery to each cylinder of the engine is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Andrew A. Raftopoulos, Michael A. Smith, Robert Gallon, Pratap S. Murthy, Scott T. Feldmann
  • Patent number: 11156170
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes an internal combustion engine and a valve opening-closing timing control device. The valve opening-closing timing control device has a phase adjustment mechanism for setting a relative rotation phase of a driving-side rotator and a driven-side rotator. The phase adjustment mechanism overlaps a timing of opening an intake valve with a timing of opening an exhaust valve, by setting, in a predetermined period, the relative rotation phase such that the exhaust valve closes after a top dead center position has been reached, and a bypass passage is provided that connects an exhaust passage of one cylinder that is in an exhaust process to the exhaust passage of another cylinder that is in an intake process at the same time as the exhaust process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiichi Fujimoto, Masaaki Kaneko, Hirokazu Tanaka, Suguru Kamiya, Kohei Fujii
  • Patent number: 11149862
    Abstract: A cooling-water control valve, which controls a flow rate of cooling water for an engine, includes a housing and a valve member. The housing has multiple outlet ports. The valve member is movably provided in the housing, so that it is rotatable around an axis line of the valve member. The valve member has multiple opened portions. Each of the opened portions is formed at a position, which is different from one another in an axial direction of the valve member. Each of the opened portions is operatively communicated to one of the outlet ports. The valve member changes a communication ratio between the opened portion and the outlet port depending on a rotational position of the valve member. The cooling-water control valve is provided at a position between the engine and an electric power converting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shogo Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 11136925
    Abstract: A control device for an engine is provided, which includes variable intake and exhaust valve operating mechanisms, a supercharger provided to an intake passage and configured to boost intake air introduced into a cylinder, and a controller. The controller drives the supercharger when the engine operates in a boosted range. The controller controls the variable intake and exhaust valve operating mechanisms so that a valve overlap period during which intake and exhaust valves open simultaneously is formed, when the engine operates in a low-speed boosted range of the boosted range where the engine speed is less than a reference speed. The controller controls the variable exhaust valve operating mechanism so that the open timing of the exhaust valve is more advanced when the engine operates in a high-speed boosted range of the boosted range where the engine speed is greater than or equal to the reference speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Inoue, Yusuke Kawai, Tetsuya Chikada
  • Patent number: 11136927
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes an internal combustion engine and a control device. A difference of an intake valve closing timing with respect to a compression top dead center is referred to as a first crank angle difference; a difference of an exhaust valve closing timing with respect to an exhaust top dead center is referred to as a second crank angle difference; and a difference between the first crank angle difference and the second crank angle difference is referred to as an intake/exhaust closing timing difference. The control device is configured to execute: a fuel cut processing; and a valve driving processing to control at least one of the intake valve closing timing and the exhaust valve closing timing such that the intake/exhaust closing timing difference becomes smaller during a fuel cut operation than during a non-fuel cut operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 11131253
    Abstract: A control device for an engine 1 including cylinders, and configured to perform a reduced-cylinder operation by idling some of cylinders. The control device includes a hydraulic valve-stopping mechanism 14b which closes the intake and exhaust valves 41, 51 of the cylinders in response to establishment of the reduced-cylinder operation execution condition, a hydraulic variable valve timing mechanism 19 capable of changing a phase of the exhaust valve 51 of the engine 1, and an ECU 110 which controls the valve-stopping mechanism 14b and the hydraulic variable valve timing mechanism 19. In response to establishment of the reduced-cylinder operation execution condition, the ECU 110 allows the hydraulic variable valve timing mechanism 19 to execute the phase change to the exhaust valve 51, and subsequently allows the valve-stopping mechanism 14b to bring the intake and exhaust valves 41, 51 of the cylinders into closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamamoto, Toshiaki Nishimoto, Takaya Okugawa, Takafumi Nishio
  • Patent number: 11118488
    Abstract: An actuating device for a camshaft timing apparatus, having a movable actuating member being supported displaceable along a translational axis, and a force generator for generating a force driving the actuating member along the translational axis, wherein the actuating member is supported rotatable about a rotational axis and wherein the actuating device comprises a torque generator for subjecting the actuating member to a torque about the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Hagen Mueller
  • Patent number: 11111825
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a hydraulic valve mechanism with variable valve opening times and an internal combustion engine, which can effectively implement a single-opening working mode, a two-opening working mode or a multi-opening working mode of a valve in the same working cycle, and can implement a rapid and stable switchover among various working modes according to working condition requirements of the internal combustion engine. A main structure thereof includes a housing, a valve cam including a main protrusion and at least one auxiliary protrusion, a hydraulic rotary valve having a hydraulic switch valve function, a hydraulic drive component, a valve drive component, and the like. Oil passages of the hydraulic drive component, the hydraulic rotary valve, and the valve drive component are in communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: LONGKOU ZHONGYU INVESTMENT HOLDING LTD.
    Inventors: Zhaoyu Wang, Zongfa Xie, Kang Han
  • Patent number: 11098617
    Abstract: A hydraulic camshaft adjuster for adjusting the control times of gas exchange valves of an engine is provided. A stator is rotatable synchronously with a crankshaft of the engine. A rotor is arranged so as to be rotatable relative to the stator, and is rotatable synchronously with a camshaft. A plurality of ribs are provided on the stator, dividing an annular chamber between the stator and the rotor into a plurality of pressure chambers. A rotor hub and a plurality of blades extend radially outward from the rotor hub, dividing the pressure chambers into two working chambers having different effective directions. An additional connectable pressure booster is provided at least in an effective direction of the hydraulic camshaft adjuster. The pressure booster can boost the rotor when active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Torsten Zschieschang
  • Patent number: 11092097
    Abstract: A control method for CVVD apparatus at engine stop, the control method may include receiving, by a controller, vehicle operation information from an information detection portion, determining, by the controller, whether it corresponds to a stop of an engine through the vehicle operation information, determining, by the controller, a predetermined target valve duration of a CVVD apparatus according to a stopping type of the engine in the stop of the engine, controlling, by the controller, the valve duration of the CVVD apparatus according to the predetermined target valve duration determined by the controller, determining, by the controller, if a current RPM of the engine is lower than a predetermined control stop RPM, and stopping the controlling of the valve duration of the CVVD apparatus if the current RPM is lower than the predetermined control stop RPM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Chi Ho Moon
  • Patent number: 11085339
    Abstract: A method of continuously variable valve duration (CVVD) location learning may include when a controller determines necessity of position learning for short duration and long duration of a CVVD system, performing conditional application re-learning control in which the position learning is performed in a situation in which validity determination of system environment condition for CVVD hardware and validity determination of vehicle environment condition for engine operation information of an engine are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jung-Sup Byun, Hee-Nam Woo
  • Patent number: 11078814
    Abstract: A valve drive device has a camshaft which includes a shaft element and a cam piece which can be driven by the shaft element and a first cam effecting a first stroke of a valve and a second cam effecting a second stroke of the valve, and is displaceable in the axial direction of the camshaft relative to the shaft element between a first position, in which the valve can be actuated by the first cam, and a second position in which the valve can be actuated by the second cam, and has an electrically controllable actuator via which the cam piece is displaceable relative to the shaft element in the axial direction as a result of an electrical control of the actuator. The actuator pushes the cam piece alternately back and forth between the positions in the case of successive electrical controls occurring with the same polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Stolk, Alexander Von Gaisberg-Helfenberg
  • Patent number: 11053820
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a hydraulic camshaft adjuster for the variable adjustment of the control times of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, having a stator and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator. Radially inwardly projecting webs are formed on the stator and radially outwardly projecting vanes are formed on the rotor. Between the stator and the rotor are formed several hydraulic working chambers, each of which is divided into a first working chamber and a second working chamber by a vane of the rotor. Two locking elements are inserted into the rotor for the temporary, reversibly detachable fixing of the rotor relative to the stator in a middle position. The first locking element and the second locking element can be locked in a common locking slotted guide. The disclosure also relates to a method for locking of the rotor in such a hydraulic camshaft adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Keck
  • Patent number: 11041411
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camshaft adjusting system (1) for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, including a hydraulic camshaft adjuster (2) which has a stator (3), a rotor (4) that is rotatably mounted in the stator (3), and a hydraulic control system (6) that has a valve (5). The rotor (4) has at least one vane which protrudes into a pressure chamber formed between the rotor (4) and the stator (3) such that the pressure chamber is divided into two sub-chambers, each of which interacts with the hydraulic control system (6) such that a hydraulic pressure ratio is established between the two sub-chambers, said ratio specifying a relative rotational position between the rotor (4) and the stator (3), and is adjusted on the basis of the position of the valve (5). The camshaft adjusting system also includes an actuator (7) which is arranged adjacently in the axial direction of the camshaft adjuster (2) and which acts on the valve (5) for adjusting purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Kramer, Olaf Boese
  • Patent number: 11028739
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for intermittently operating poppet valves in an internal combustion engine when desired by the selective locking or unlocking of one or more cam lobes with the camshaft. One or more cam lobes, with a small radial clearance, ride on a camshaft such that an engagement mechanism may be activated as desired to lock the cam lobe to the camshaft, thereby activating the respective poppet valve. The cam lobe is prevented from moving axially to ensure correct alignment with a follower. A suitable holding device may be used to ensure the non-activated cam lobes are restrained at a suitable orientation relative to the cam follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: YELIR, INC
    Inventor: Michael B. Riley
  • Patent number: 11028738
    Abstract: A piston for a hydraulic unit of a cam phaser, wherein the piston is configured cylindrical and wherein the piston is received axially movable in a cam phaser opening of the cam phaser, wherein according to a positioning of the piston a plurality of connections, in particular operating connections of the cam phaser are opened and closed, wherein the piston includes an outer contour that is configured for opening or closing the connections wherein the outer contour is configured complementary to an inner contour of the cam phaser opening in order to provide opening and/or closing of the connections. The invention also relates to a cam phaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: ECO Holding 1 GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Sing, John Snyder, Daniel Stanhope
  • Patent number: 11008955
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine and a control method for a variable mechanism for an internal combustion engine for a vehicle, according to the present invention, is configured to maintain a drive stopped state of an electric actuator of the variable mechanism when a position of the electric actuator does not change in a case in which the position of the electric actuator is apart from stoppers and the electric actuator is stopped, whereas to restart driving the electric actuator when the position of the electric actuator changes. In this way, it is possible to prevent wasteful power consumption while the internal combustion engine is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventor: Naoki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11002158
    Abstract: A variable cam timing phaser with a control valve that can selectively user either CTA mode, TA mode or both CTA and TA mode simultaneously to actuate the phaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Franklin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 10961879
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for a sliding camshaft of a motor vehicle is provided. The sliding camshaft includes a base shaft that extends along a longitudinal axis and rotates about the longitudinal axis. The sliding camshaft further includes lobe banks rotationally fixed to the base shaft. Each lobe bank is axially movable between first and second positions relative to the base shaft. The sensor assembly includes a detection element rotationally fixed relative to the base shaft and axially movable between first and second positions relative to the base shaft. The sensor assembly further includes a sensor operably coupled to the detection element and configured to generate a signal indicative of an axial position of the detection element relative to the base shaft and at least one of an angular speed of the base shaft and an angular position of the base shaft about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Daniele Ciola, Davide Di Nunno
  • Patent number: 10961929
    Abstract: A method for a combustion motor that is initially used in a full Miller cycle or full Atkinson cycle that is advantageous with regard to efficiency. In full operation, a switchover to a partial operation takes place, wherein the intake valves associated with the combustion chambers that are to continue to be operated are switched over to actuation in accordance with a second valve lifting curve in order to achieve a switchover that is as torque-neutral as possible and is optimal with regard to efficiency. The closing time of the intake valve brought about by this second valve lifting curve is designed with respect to maximum volumetric efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christopher Gessenhardt
  • Patent number: 10954828
    Abstract: A variable camshaft phaser is provided having a stator attached to a driving part, and a rotor located within the stator and attached to a driven part. First and second cover plates are located on respective first and second axial sides of the stator. Inwardly directed vanes of the stator, the rotor, and the first and second cover plates define at least one chamber. Radially outwardly directed vanes of the rotor divide the at least one chamber into an advance side working chamber and a retard side working chamber. A locking pin bore is located in the rotor, and a locking pin is located in the locking pin bore. One of the first and second cover plates includes a locking pin receiving opening. A magnetic part is located in the locking pin receiving opening to remove metallic particles and contaminants from the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Alexandre Camilo, Willian Jose Pedretti
  • Patent number: 10954830
    Abstract: A control system of a vehicle includes: an electric motor configured to phase rotation of an camshaft of an engine relative to rotation of a crankshaft of the engine; a current module configured to, while the engine is off: selectively transition a current signal back and forth between a first state and a second state; and a motor driver module configured to, while the engine is off: apply power to the electric motor from a battery and adjust a position of the camshaft toward a predetermined position when the current signal is in the first state; and disconnect the electric motor from the battery and allow the position of the camshaft to move away from the predetermined position when the current signal is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Etsuko M. Stewart, Scott T. Feldmann, Pratap S. Murthy
  • Patent number: 10947932
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting operation of a split exhaust engine system based on a total flow of gases through a scavenge exhaust gas recirculation system of the split exhaust engine system. In one example, a method may include setting a cam timing correction based on a difference between a first value and a second value of a flow through an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage, the first value determined based on a first parameter set including a cylinder valve overlap area and the second value determined based on a second parameter set not including the cylinder valve overlap area, and operating at least one of an intake cam and an exhaust cam at a corrected timing using the cam timing correction. In this way, the flow through the EGR passage may be adjusted even without active control of a valve coupled in the EGR passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohannad Hakeem, Timothy Joseph Clark, Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel Paul Madison
  • Patent number: 10947870
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser arrangement configured for a concentric camshaft assembly having inner and outer camshafts is provided. The camshaft phaser arrangement includes a first camshaft phaser, a second camshaft phaser, and a coupling that non-rotatably connects the first camshaft phaser to the concentric camshaft assembly. Each of the camshaft phasers is configured to be connected to either the inner or the outer camshaft. The coupling accommodates for radial and axial offset between the first camshaft phaser and the second camshaft phaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Kandolf, Andrew Mlinaric, Steven Burke, Nathanael Biester, Vaishnavi Pawade
  • Patent number: 10927719
    Abstract: A variable cam timing phaser arrangement is disclosed, comprising: a rotor having at least one vane; a stator co-axially surrounding the rotor, having a recess for receiving the vane of the rotor, wherein the vane divides the recess into a first chamber and a second chamber; and a control assembly for regulating hydraulic fluid flow from the first chamber to the second chamber or vice-versa. The control assembly comprises a central on/off piloted valve allowing or preventing fluid flow along a first unidirectional flow path between the first and second chambers, and a central solenoid valve allowing or preventing fluid flow along a second unidirectional flow path between the first and second chambers in the opposite direction to the first flow path. Also disclosed are an integrated valve unit for use in the variable cam timing phaser arrangement, and a method of controlling the timing of a camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Daniel Olovsson, Mikael Eriksson
  • Patent number: 10900390
    Abstract: A method of operating an electromagnetic latch assembly of a type that includes an electromagnet and a latch pin that is stable independently from the electromagnet in both first and second positions includes energizing the electromagnet systematically over a period in a manner that enhances the functionality of the electromagnetic latch assembly without causing the latch pin to move between the first and second positions. The period may be a period over which the electromagnetic latch assembly is too cold and the electromagnet may be energized in a manner that is effective for heating. Alternatively, the period may be one over which the electromagnetic latch assembly is subject to high inertial forces and the electromagnet may be energized in a manner that is effective to enhance latch pin retention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Petr Liskar
  • Patent number: 10895232
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for mounting a fuel pump to a cylinder head of an engine. In one example, a mounting system may comprise: an engine fuel pump mounted directly to a cylinder head cap positioned underneath a cam cover, the cap including a raised portion having a first and a second cap mounting boss, and a main opening for directly receiving the fuel pump, wherein each of the first and second cap mounting bosses couple to a flange formed on a bottom portion of the fuel pump. In this way, the fuel pump may be directly mounted to the cylinder head cap to simplify assembly, minimize fuel leakage and reduce pump vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Kochanski, David Matthew Gasior, Claude Weston Bailey, III
  • Patent number: 10890124
    Abstract: Provided is a technique capable of suppressing the amount of fuel adhering to a wall surface of a cylinder in an engine whose wall surface temperature varies every cycle. An internal combustion engine control device that controls an internal combustion engine, which injects fuel into a cylinder and generates combustion by ignition, includes: a wall surface temperature calculation unit that calculates a wall surface temperature of the cylinder based on a pressure in the cylinder; and a combustion control unit that controls the combustion of the internal combustion engine based on the calculated wall surface temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Yoneya, Masayuki Saruwatari
  • Patent number: 10883394
    Abstract: A support arrangement for an actuator of a cam phaser, the support arrangement including an actuator module including an actuator; and a support element configured to support the actuator module on a camshaft, wherein the actuator module is connected to the support element by an electrical contact arrangement configured to actuate the actuator, and wherein the electrical contact arrangement includes an elastic clamping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: ECO Holding 1 GmbH
    Inventor: Daniel Stanhope
  • Patent number: 10876437
    Abstract: A variable valve train with at least two functionally identical gas-exchange valves per cylinder, having primary cam and a secondary cam generated valve strokes that are transmitted by a switchable cam follower selectively to the gas-exchange valves. The respective cam follower has a primary lever in tapping contact with the primary cam and in switching contact with the gas-exchange valve and a secondary lever that is in tapping contact with the secondary cam and is coupleable with the primary lever by a control pin. The respective control pins are connected by connecting elements to respective first and second elongated switching elements, which are arranged above the cam followers parallel to the camshaft and are displaceable longitudinally by a linear actuator from a home into a switched position. The control pins of the cam follower of functionally identical gas-exchange valves are in switching connection with a respective one of the first and second elongated switching elements for common movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dimitri Schott, Harald Elendt
  • Patent number: 10876435
    Abstract: A case for rotating integrally with a crankshaft of an engine; a rotor housed in the case, to be rotated integrally with a camshaft of the engine by fastening the rotor coaxially to the camshaft with a center bolt; and a groove provided around an axis of the rotor on an opposite side of the rotor to the camshaft, and having an inner wall intersecting a rotation direction of the rotor are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuhiro Matsumoto, Hirofumi Hase
  • Patent number: 10865716
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster for adjusting the phase angle between a crankshaft and a camshaft of an internal combustion engine comprises an actuator, in particular, an electric motor, and an adjustment module, which comprises a drive element, which can be driven by the crankshaft, and an output element, which can be rotated relative to the drive element to a limited extent and which is provided to be securely coupled to the camshaft, wherein a signal generator, which is arranged so as to be fixed in position on the internal combustion engine and which has an inductance, is inductively coupled to a measurement circuit, which is integrated into the adjustment module and which has at least one resonant circuit component having electrical properties that depend on the said phase angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Schaefller Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Braun, Jens Heim, Jens Schäfer, Andreas Thölke